More than a Program,
Persevere is a Movement
What started with one man’s life changing experience, has grown to thousands of life changing experiences for hundreds of men and women in multiple states across the country. And we’re just getting started.
About Us
Persevere transforms lives through technology, creating pathways to opportunity for justice-impacted individuals both inside correctional facilities and throughout communities. Founded by and for people with lived justice experience, our comprehensive approach combines technical education with holistic support—addressing mental health, life skills, trauma recovery, and family reunification alongside career development.
Our impact speaks volumes: our recidivism rate is less than 1% in Tennessee and under 5% organization-wide, dramatically below the national average of 68%, while 87% of our graduates secure employment within six months of release. Behind these numbers are real people finding purpose, reuniting with families, and contributing to their communities as technology professionals.
From our “Behind the Walls” certification programs, to working with justice-impacted youth, to our community-based support that continues for at least one year post-release, we meet individuals where they are. We provide transitional housing opportunities, wraparound services, and employment connections with partners like Forbes, Comcast, Indeed, Gallup, and Quanta.
At Persevere, we’re not just changing individual lives; we’re breaking cycles of intergenerational incarceration while building stronger, safer communities. Because we believe talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn’t—and we’re committed to changing that reality.
Our History
Persevere was born from personal experience when founder Sean Hosman emerged from incarceration in 2012 with a stark realization: his technology skills provided him immediate employment opportunities, while his fellow returning citizens faced nearly insurmountable barriers to work. What began as one man’s mission to share his technical knowledge with others who had been justice-involved has evolved into a transformative organization. Formally incorporated in 2014, Persevere now serves hundreds of individuals annually through comprehensive technology training and support programs operating in six states across correctional facilities and community settings. Our name reflects both the resilience required to rebuild after incarceration and our unwavering commitment to creating pathways where barriers once stood.
Meet Our Founder, Sean Hosman
“I was trying to be a dad and a husband while also running this company and battling addiction and alcoholism. I thought I could balance it, and of course, there is no balance in addiction. I was arrested 12 times in two years. My experiences made me think of a concept I’ve kept coming back to ever since: ready, willing and enabled. I knew I couldn’t quit on my own, but some people around me enabled me to make a change. And I mean “enabled” in the true sense of the word. They gave me the ability to do what I knew needed to be done. They empowered me.” And so Persevere was born.
“Persevere offers a one-year programming course for people behind prison walls so they can become full-stack developers. This includes life-skill classes, support, and even transitional housing. The success rates at Persevere have been phenomenal, and I couldn’t be more proud. I wanted to take it a step further and make sure these graduates had every opportunity to succeed, so I created Banyan Labs. This tech company is there to hire them after release, giving them an opportunity to develop software and work on a real team so they’ll have the experience they need to build a thriving career.
Our population needs truly viable skills with real opportunities to succeed. Technology offers meaningful jobs, careers, and even entrepreneurship. I always say technology is the great equalizer. It’s a language that people in those circumstances often haven’t learned yet. Coding is a language that puts them back in the world.
The results couldn’t be better. Those who graduate from Persevere and are released have a 93% job placement rate and 85% job retention rate. The plan is working; we are changing lives. And this isn’t the end. I can’t wait to see where these students and graduates go from here.”
– Sean Hosman, Founder of Persevere
Get Involved
We are committed to communities and various stakeholders working together to form coalitions and create partnerships to bring education, housing, jobs, and mental health and substance abuse services to their respective areas. Help us in our mission to change lives by providing technical training and life skills to eligible job seekers.